Mail carrier for a pneumatic system



Ggc. DAGLE ETAL 3,201,064'

MAIL CARRIER FOR A PNEUMATIC SYSTEM Aug. l7, 1965 Filed Dec. 24, 1963 United States Patent O .This invention relates to an improved mail carrier and more particularly to `a mail carrier adapted for use in pneumatic delivery systems provided in commercial buildings such as stores, banks and thelike.

ICC

`Still anotherobject of the present invention is to pro-` vide a mail carrier of the aforementioned type wherein an opening is provided in the wall of the body opposite the slotat the bottom of the groove and the inner end of thedoor includes a tab which is received in the opening when the door is inthe closed position.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a mail `carrier of the aforementioned type wherein the Heretofore, a mail carrier has been provided with a` tubular body having an externally mounted leather cover over the entrance thereto. The cover was held in place by leather straps. n Such a construction was not successful due tothe fact that the straps became unfastened when the carrier was moved through the delivery conduit. As a result thereof, the mail and other contents in theycar- Iier` escaped therefrom into the delivery conduit of the pneumatic system. This caused considerable inconvenience and maintenance problems since not only were valuable articles lost but the articles themselves on many occasions blocked the conduit. Thus, it became necessary to frequently clean the conduit of trapped articles. d

It is an object of the present invention to provide a mail carrier for a pneumatic system comprising an elongated tubular body closed at one end thereof, a slot in a Wall portion of the body at the other end thereof, said slot being located in a plane which is substantially perpendicular to the axis of the tubular body, and .a door in the slot slidably carried by the body, said door being slidable through the slot from an opened position where it is located exteriorly of the body to a closed position where the door closes the other end of thebody, and releasable means for latching the door in the closed position.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a mail carrier of the aforementioned type wherein the d the slot and groove from an opened position to a closed position where `the door lls the slot and the groove and closes the other end of the body.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a mail carrier of the aforementioned type wherein `a recess is provided in the door and a spring clip is located in the recess having the inner end thereof fixed to the door, the outer end of the spring clip being biased in .a direction out of the recess, said doorwhen in a closed position having the outer end "of the spring clip in engagement with the inner surface of the body, the outer end of the spring clip being adapted to be moved into the recess to permit opening of the door,` the wall of the slot directly opposite the spring clip holding the outer end thereof in the recess during movement of the door to the opened position.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a mail carrier of the aforementioned type wherein the elongated tubular body is made from a plastic material, both ends of the body being provided with a leather collar around the outer periphery thereof, the collar adjacent the other end of the body having a slot therein which overlies the first-mentioned slot to permit opening and closingof the door. V

outer end surface of the door isvconstructed and shaped like the outer surface of the aforesaid wallportion of the d body such that when the door is in a closed position the end surface of the door and the outer surface ofthe wall portion are flush. d d d Y t It is thus another object of this invention to provide a low cost structure of the aforementioned type having cer-` tain advantages contributing to `eiiiciency,reliability and ferred form of the present invention is clearlyshown.

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary View illustrating the carrier in the tube of a pneuamtic mail system. d

`FIGUREZ is afragmentary perspective view of the mail carrier, with the door provided therein illustrated a partially open position.

FIGURE 3 is afragmentary vertical sectional view through the mail carrier illustrating the door in a closed and latched position', said View being taken substantiall on the line 3-3 of FIGURE 4.

FIGURE 4 is an end view, partially in section, taken on the line 4-4 of FIGURES.

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view` taken substantially on the line 3 3 of FIGURE 4 and illustrating the door in a partially opened position.

FIGURE 6 is a vertical sectional view similar to FIG- UREIS but on a somewhat larger scale. d

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary sectional the line 7-7 of FIGURE 4.

Referring now to the drawing, the conduit of the pneumatic mail system is designated by the` numeral 10 and has provided therein a novel mail `carrier 12. The `mail carrier 12 includes an elongated tubular .body 14 made from `a suitable transparent plastic material. One end view `taken on 1t," ofthe elongated tubular b0dy`14 isV permanently closed. `The other end` 18 can be opened to permit mail or other articles to be inserted int-o the. tubular body 14 as will subsequently appear. Both ends `16 and 18 of the tubular body 14 are provided with a radially extending.

annular ridge 20. A collar 22 made from leatheris interposed between the ridge 20 and the` opposite `end surface at both ends of the body ,14. `The elongated tubular d body 14 is of substantially oval shape and includes a pair of side walls 24 and 26 which are interconnected by an arcuate or curved top wall 28 and byV an arcute or`curved bottom Wall 30. rlfhe oval shape extends throughout the entire length of the body 14 which may be, as an example, approximately 18 inches in length.

The present invention relates primarily to the manner in opening and closing the tubular body` 14 torneans forA preventing the carrier from lopening when it is in the delivery conduit.

The end 18 is provided with a slot 32 in the top` wall i 28 of the`body 14. The slot 32 conforms in shape to the wall 28 and has an angular extent which is best illustrated in FIGURE 4. The collar' 22- is also provided with an identically shaped slot 34 of the same size and which overlies the slot 32 provided in the plastic tubular body 14. Both slots 32 and 34 lie in a plane which is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis ofthe body 14. Extending downwardly from the ends of the slot 32 alongthe sides 24 and 26 and bottom 30 of the body 14 Patented Aug. 17, 1965 d mail is an elongated relatively shallow groove 36, the ends of which are connected to opposite ends of the slot 32 provided in the elongated tubular body 14.

nThe bottom wall of the body 14 andcollar 22 is provided with a centrally located slot or opening 4t) at the bottom of the groove 36 and which is used for a purpose to be subsequently described.

A door or slide 44 is slidably carried by the body 14 and is of a shape substantially identical tothe transverse cross section of the tubular body 14. The inner end 46 of the door 44 is provided with a tab 48 which is adapted s to'be received in the opening 40 when the door 44 is in a closedeposition. The door 44, which is made from a suitable metal such as steel or aluminum, is provided with a substantially oval shaped recess 52y of uniform depth. A spring or spring clip 54 is located in said recess 52, with the lower half 56 thereof being secured tothe door 44,- as an example, by a plurality of rivets 58. The upper half 60 of the spring clip 54 is tensioned or biased in a direction away from the recess 52 as best illustrated in FIGURES 3 and 6.

FIGURES 3 and 4 illustrate the door 44 in a closed position with the upper edge 62 of the spring 54 in engagement with the inner surface of the tubular body 14 to hold or latch said door yin the closed position. It should also be lobserved in theevent the spring clip 54 is broken that s is provided between the `mail carrier 12 and the conduit After the mail carrier 12'has arrived at the proper station and the carrier 12 is removed from the conduit 1t), a person by applying a force in the direction of the arrow X in FIGURE 3 urges the upper half 60 of the y spring clip 54 into the recess 52.` Thereafter, the door 44 is slidin a lateral direction out of the tubular body 14 so as to open the end 18 of the body 14. The upper half 60 of thespring clip 54is heldin the recess 52 by the opposite wall 68 of the slot 32 as best illustrated in FIGURE 5.

It shrould be noted that when the spring clip 54 is compressed the door 44 and clip 54 function as a slide or unit of uniform thickness.

The door 44 includes shoulders 70 andl 72 engageable with the end surfaces or stop abutments 74 and 76 respectively of slots 32 and 34. When the door is in a closed position, the end surface 66 is substantially flush with the outer surface of the cover 22.

The door 44 and clip 54 are designed to be removed from the body 14 as a unit when the carrier 12 is opened. When it is required to close the carrier, a force is applied to the spring clip 54 to urge portion 60 into the recess 52. Thereafter the door is moved through slots 32 and 34 and groove 36 to the closed position shown in FIGURE 4, at which time the upperfportion 60 of clip 54 is urged into latching position.

The drawing and the foregoing specification constitute a description of the improved mail carrier for a pneumatic'systein in such full, clear, concise and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the v invention, the scope of which is indicated by the appended claims. v

What we claim as our invention is:

1. A pneumatic tube carrier comprising an elongated tubular body closed at'one end thereof, a transverse slot inV a side wall portion of said body adjacent the other end thereof and.v terminating in .a pair of stop abutments, a door located in said slot, said door having inner and outerrends and slidably carried by said tubular body, said door including a pair of shoulders adjacent the outer end .thereof engageable with said stop abutments when i said door is in a position closing said other end of said body.

2. A pneumatic tube carrier comprising an elongated tubular body closed at one thereof, a transverse slot extending through a side wall portion of said body adjacent the other end of saidbody, a door located in said slot, said Idoor having inner and outer ends and slibably carried by said tubular body, said door being slidable in opposite directions through said slot to open and close said tubular body, an opening in another side wall portion of said body directly opposite to said first-mentioned wall portion, and an inwardly extending locating tab on the inner end of said door engageable withthe surfaces defining said opening when said door is in ya closed posie tion. t

3. A pneumatic tube carrier comprising an elongated tubular body closed at one end thereof, a transverse slot v door is ina position closingsaid other end of said body,y

an opening in another side Wall portionv of said body directly opposite to said first-mentioned wall portion, and an inwardly extending locating tab on the inner end of said door engageable with the surfaces defining said opening when said door is in a closed position.

4. A pneumatic tube carrier comprising an elongated tubular body closed at one end thereof, a transverse slot in a side wall portion of said body adjacent the other end l thereof and terminating in a pair of stop abutments, a door located in said slot, said door having inner and outer ends and slidably carried by said tubular body,'said door including a pair of shoulders adjacent the outer end thereof engageable with said stop abutments when said door is in ,a position closing said other end of said body, an A opening in another side wall portion of said body directly opposite to said first-mentioned wall portion, an inwardly extending locating tab on the inner end of said door `engageable with the surfaces defining said opening when said door is in a closed position, and releasable resilient means carried by said door engageable with the inner wall of said body for latching said door in theA closed position.

5. A mail carrier for a pneumatic system comprising an elongated tubular body closed at oneend thereof, a slot in a side Wall'portion of said body at the other end thereof, a groove on the interior of said body extending around the inner periphery thereof, the ends of said groove intersecting opposite ends of said slot, said groove and said slot` forming an endless track, a door in said track slidably carried by said body, said door being slidable through saidl slot and groove from an opened position where it is located exteriorly of said body to a closed position where said door fills said slot and said groove and closes said, other end of said body, and a springvclip havingrthe inner end thereof fixed to said door, `the outer end of said spring clip being biased in a directionaway from said door, said1 door when in a closed position having said outer end of said spring clip in engagement with the inner surface of said body to retain said door in a latched position, the outer end of said spring clip being adapted to be moved towards said door to permit said door and said clip to be moved through said slot, the wall of said slot directly opposite said spring clip holding said outer end thereof against said door during movement of said door to the opened position.

6. The mail carrier defined in claim 5 wherein an open ing is provided in another sidewall portion of said body f directly opposite to said 'first-mentioned wall portion, and an inwardly extending locating tab on the inner end of said door engageable with the surfaces defining said opening when said door is in a closed position.

7. The pneumatic tube carrier definedvin claim 5 wherein said slot terminates in a pair of stop abutments, said door including a pair of shoulders adjacent the outer end thereof engageable with said stop abutments when said door is in a position closing said other end of said body.

S. A mail carrier for a pneumatic system comprising an elongated tubular body closed at one end thereof, a slot in a wall portion of said body at the other end thereof, said slot being located in a plane which is substantially perpendicular to the axis of said tubular body, a groove on the interior of said body located in said plane and extending around the inner periphery of said body, the ends of said groove intersecting opposite ends of said slot, said groove and said slot forming an endless track, and a door in said track slidably carried by said body, said door being slidablethrough said slot and groove from an opened position where it is located exteriorly of said body to a closed position Where said door fills said slot and said groove and closes said other end of said body, and manually operable releasable means for latching said door in the closed position.

9. A mail carrier for a pneumatic system comprising an elongated tubular body closed at one end thereof, a slot in a wall portion of said body at the other end thereof, said slot being located in a plane which is substantially perpendicular to the axis of said tubular body, a groove on the interior of said 1body located in Said plane and extending around the inner periphery of said body, the ends of said groove intersecting opposite ends of said slot, said groove and said slot forming an endless track, and a door in said track slidably carried by said body, said door being slidable through said slot and groove from an opened position Where it is located exteriorly of said body to a closed position where said door fills said slot and said groove and closes said other end of said body, and manually operable releasable resilient means carried by said door engageable with the inner wall of said body for latching said door in the closed position.

10. A mail carrier for a pneumatic system comprising an elongated tubular body closed at one end thereof, a slot in a wall portion of said body at the other end thereof, said slot being located in a plane which is substantially perpendicular to the axis of said tubular body, a groove on the interior of said body located in said plane and extending around the inner periphery thereof, the ends of said groove intersecting opposite ends of said slot, and a door slidably carried by said body, said door being slidable through said slot and groove from an opened position where it is located exteriorly of said body to a closed position Where said door fills said slot and said groove and closes said other end of said body, a recess in said door, and a spring clip in said recess having the inner end thereof fixed to said door, the outer end of said spring clip being biased in a direction out of said recess, said door when in a closed position having said outer end of said spring clip in engagement with the inner surface of said body, the outer end of said spring clip being adapted to be moved into said recess to permit opening of said door, the wall of said slot directly opposite said spring clip holding said outer end thereof in said recess during movement of said door to the opened position.

11. The mail carrier deiined in claim l@ wherein said elongated tubular body is made from a plastic material.

12. The mail carrier defined in claim lll wherein said plastic material is transparent.

13. The mail carrier deiined in claim llt? wherein both ends of said elongated tubular body are provided with a leather collar around the outer periphery thereof, the collar adjacent said other end of said body having a slot therein which overlies said first-mentioned slot to permit opening and closing of said door.

14. The mail carrier defined in claim 10 wherein an opening is provided in said body at the bottom of said groove, and the inner end of said door includes a tab which is received in said opening when said door is in the closed position.

15. The mail carrier defined in claim 10 wherein said door and said clip are made from metal, said clip being riveted to said door.

16. The mail carrier defined in claim 10 wherein the outer end surface of said door is constructed and shaped like the outer surface of said wall portion such that when said door is in a closed position the end surface of said door and the outer surface of said wall portion are substantially flush.

17. The mail carrier defined in claim f lft wherein said body includes a pair of dat side walls which are connected by curved top and bottom walls.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 344,126 6/86 Meeker 220 41 1,319,024 10/19 Warfield 22o-41 3,006,575 10/61 Tonne 243-35 3,073,546 1/63 woodland 243-35 SAMUEL F. COLEMAN, Primary Examiner.

ANDRES H. NIELSEN, Examiner. 

10. A MAIL CARRIER FOR A PNEUMATIC SYSTEM COMPRISING AN ELONGATED TUBULAR BODY CLOSED AT ONE END THEREOF, A SLOT IN A WALL PORTION OF SAID BODY AT THE OTHER END THEREOF, SAID SLOT BEING LOCATED IN A PLANE WHICH IS SUBSTANTIALLY PERPENDICULAR TO THE AXIS OF SAID TUBULAR BODY, A GROOVE ON THE INTERIOR OF SAID BODY LOCATED IN SAID PLANE AND EXTENDING AROUND THE INNER PERIPHERY THEREOF, THE ENDS OF SAID GROOVE INTERSECTING OPPOSITE ENDS OF SAID SLOT, AND A DOOR SLIDABLY CARRIED BY SAID BODY, SAID DOOR SLIDABLE THROUGH SAID SLOT AND GROOVE FROM AND OPENED POSITION WHERE IT IS LOCATED EXTERIORLY OF SAID BODY TO A CLOSED POSITION WHERE SAID DOOR FILLS SAID SLOT AN SAID GROOVE AND CLOSES SAID OTHER END OF SAID BODY, A RECESS IN SAID DOOR, AND A SPRING CLIP IN SAID RECESS HAVING THE INNER END THEREOF FIXED TO SAID DOOR, THE OUTER END OF SAID SPRING CLIP BEING BIASED IN A DIRECTION OUT OF SAID RECESS, SAID DOOR WHEN IN A CLOSED POSITION HAVING SAID OUTER END OF SAID SPRING CLIP IN ENGAGEMENT WITH THE INNER SURFACE OF SAID BODY, THE OUTER END OF SAID SPRING CLIP 